High-speed printer with shared control circuit



llg- 19, 1969 R A. aELsoN ETAL. f 3,461,796

HIGH-SPEED PRINTER WITH SHARED CONTROL CIRCUIT Filed Nov. 2o, 1967 4sheets-sheet 1 LX c-l 6'3 V6@ c-GB C1312 PR-l) PR'2)\\ PR.

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INVENTORS ATTORNEY Aug. 19, '1969 Filed um.l 2o, 1967 R A. BELsoN ETALHIGIFSPEED PRINTER WITH SHARED CONTROL CIRCUIT 4 Sheds-Sheet 2 Flc-12As.R.|| {sul-:Ism:

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INVENTORS ROSS A. BELSON BYJOHN F. ZETTLER ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 19693,461,796v

HIGH-SPEED PRINTER WITH SHARED CONTROL CIRCUIT Filed NGV, 20, 1957 R A.BELSON ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Iobzsw ma mow l Aug. 19, 1969 n A. BELL-50NETAL HIGwsVEED PRINTER IWITH SHARED CONTROL CIRCUlT Filed Nov. 20, 19674 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

ROSS A. BELSON JOHN ZETTLER BY F.

, Y ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,461,796 HIGH-SPEED PRINTER WITHSHARED CONTROL CIRCUIT Ross A. lielson and .lohn F. Zettler, Natick,Mass., aS-

signors to Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of DelawareFiled Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,571

Int. Cl. 341i 1/28 US. Cl. 101-93 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Ahigh-speed printer control System for a continuouslyrotating type-rolland an associated array of aligned print hammers adapted to be driven toselectively impact intermediate media against the roll, the driverelectronics characterized -as being shared in the sense of eachelectronic driver control unit being coupled in common to drive a set ofhammer solenoids associated with a set of printcolumns, each driverbeing associated with a respective set of columns; and the fontarrangement or the type-roll being characterized in beingoffset-in-groups, or shared, across each character-row so as to presentfont at each column in a given set at prescribed staggered(character-scan) times to accommodate this driver sharing.

INVENTION FEATURES High-speed printers of various types are well-known.in the art, such as those shown and described in U.S, Patent No.3,240,920 to Charles I. Barbagallo et al., issued Mar. 15, 1966. Asworkers in the art well know, in such printers a separate hammer isprovided for each character position (print column) along a printingline and a rotating type-roll is adapted, typically, to sweep rows oflike characters past each of these columns in parallel, the hammerstypically being solenoid-energized to impact an intermediate formagainst a selected passing type face under control of an associated(solenoid) driver unit. With such complex, multi-part electro-mechanicaldevices, involving a great number of parts subject to problems of highwear, fussy adjustments, etc., it is obviously quite attractive toeffect any structural simplification possible. To this end, workers inthe art have long attempted to simplify the number and structure of eachhammer means such as by oscillating hammer heads back and forth betweenalternate columns (related arrangements indicated, for instance, in U.S.3,332,343 to Sims and Re. 26,240 to Wasserman). Quite evidently, anysaving in hammer construction can -be multiplied a great number of times(typically about 132 times, this being the typical number of printcolumns). The present invention is directed toward such an attractiveeconomy, but involves a simplitication and sharing of the electronicsassociated with driving hammer solenoids, rather than attempting toshare mechanical elements by reciprocating them back and forth etc.Workers in the art will recognize that electronic sharing is inherentlymore attractive than mechanical sharing, since the latter typicallyinvolves a slow cumbersome oscillation of mechanical parts with theattendant wear, risk of positioning alignment errors, etc.-none of thesebeing characteristic of electronic sharing. More particularly, oneinvention embodiment, described below, involves a time-sharedhammer-driver feature, especially adaptable for low speed printing.

The time-sharing of driver electronics is particularly advantageous whenthe type-font is offset-in-groups so that during any line-scan-time(time interval during which two successive lines of font register at aparticular col- 3,461,796 Patented Aug. 19, 1969 ice umn), differentsub-sets of font are staggeringly registered at the printing line. Inthis way, a particular driver unit may be enabled (for eachcharacter-roW)-first for an initial column (in its associated set),then, slightly thereafter, for a second column; next for a third column,and so forth. A particular example of such a time-sharing fontarrangement is indicated for type-roll PR in FIG- URE 1 where the fontis offset into two zones (i.e. roll PR half-twisted) in a shared-fontarray corresponding to a halved driver-sharing hammer controlarrangement; and also by print roll PR in FIGURE 2A where the font isoffset alternatingly by-twos (in sixty-six sets of paired driver sharinghammers, for 132 columns).

lt is thus a primary object of the present invention to provide improvedprinting apparatus exhibiting the aforedescribed and related featuresand advantages and alleviating the aforedescribed shortcomings. Anotherobject is to provide an improved high-speed printer employing shareddriver electronics for sets of print-hammers.

A further object is to provide such a printer wherein the type-rollincludes a shared font arrangement having different offset groups offont corresponding to the sharing hammer positions. The foregoingrelated objects, features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following, more particular description of preferredembodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals denote like elements, these drawingscomprising:

FIGURE l, a schematic, fragmentary exemplary representation of oneembodiment including a type-roll with a halved type shared-fontarrangement, also indicating in schematic fashion a few exemplaryhammers and associated electronic driver units coupled thereto insharinghammer fashion;

FIGURE 2A is a modification of the showing in FIG- URE 1 indicating analternate font arrangement and associated hammer-sharing arrangement,FIGURES 2B and 2C indicating, schematically driver control electronicsassociated with this arrangement; while FIGURE 2D indicates arepresentative timing diagram for this electronics; and

FIGURES 3A, 3B represent more detailed showing of driver control logicand electronics of the type indicated in FIGURES 2A, 2B while FIGURE 3Crepresents a timing chart illustrating typical operations of elements inFIGURES 3A and 3B.

SHARED DRIVERS According to one feature of the invention and asindicated in the embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2A, a driving controlarrangement is taught wherein hammer driver circuits are shared(time-shared). In this connection, FIGURE l shows a novel half-twistedtype roll PR' adapted to optimize such sharing according to a particularrelated offset font arrangement. Type roll PR comprises a conventionaltype roll (used commonly in high speed line printers); modified somewhatto so arrange this offset font to correspond to the shareddriver circuitarrangement by a half-twisting of roll PR (see below). In thisarrangement, the printing solenoid array S1 through S132 comprises a setof 132 conventional solenoid-hammer-slug units (eg. as described in U.S.Patent 3,285,165 to Richter), but is divided into two groups: namely, afirst solenoid group S-1 through S'-66, corresponding to print hammersH1 through H66 (dening print positions 1 through 66, along columns C1through C-66 corresponding to a first font set on PR', as indicated onthe first half-roll PR'-1); and a second solenoid group, SL67 throughS-132, co1'- responding to hammers H-67 -H-132 (and defining at printpositions 67 through 132, along columns C-67 through C-l32; thesecorresponding to a second font set on a second half roll PR-2 offset ortype roll, halftwisted, with respect to the font-rows on PR-1 accordingto the invention).

Although the showing is very schematic and fragmentary (for clarity), itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that using a normal (full)complement of 132 hammers, (H-1 through H-132) with associated solenoids(S-1 through S-132), only one-half the usual number of driver circuitsHD is here provided or required, since according to one feature of theinvention each circuit HD is arranged to energize a respective pair ofsharing solenoids (such as S-1 and S-6'T connected to time-share driverHD-1, doing so at alternate halves of each characterscan period). Toimplement this sharing, a common power supply PS is arranged so as toalternately energize, first one solenoid group and then the other, i.e.SL67 through S-132, alternating (switching via silicon controlledrectifiers SCR-1, SCR-2) in synchronism with the registration (alongprint-line P-P) of alternate, offset character-row halves (PR1, PR-2)with each solenoid group, successively. Thus, power would first beapplied along a first power buss B-1 in synchronism with theregistration of a first half-row of font (e.g. font row D D on thesecond half-roll PR-2, associated with hammers H-67-H-132). Similarly,buss B-2 will come on and B-1 go off during a succeeding halfcycle of(of power-application) in synchronism with the registering of the nexthalf-row (eg. row D D, on the first half-roll, PR1, associated withhammers Hl-HGG and being offset from the first half-row). A savings incomponents will be recognized as derived from such an offset by twostype font arrangement, together with the associated by-twos driversharing (particularized below). Of course, other analogous offsetting/sharing arrangements may be substituted (e.g. by-threes) where printereconomics and performance specifications permit (e.g. a longer scan timeis required for each movement in sharing, e.g. from by-twos toby-threes, and this will reduce the maximum type roll speed permissibleand the maximum printing speed).

Although the type font may be otherwise sharinglyarranged to be sweptpast the print line in (two) successive, offset waves (staggeredhalf-rows at different times during passage of a single character-row orscan); in this case, type roll PR will be understood as comprising apair of half-twisted sharing portions, PR-1 and PR2, with the font rowsin PR-1 effectively twisted about 1/2 a character height (SP-1) so that,for each character-row, one half-row follows the other in sweeping pastPP (for eX- ample, sector SP-1 will register at P-P just after itscounterpart, SP-1'). The twist-spacing that effects this may be setaccording to the prescribed type roll speed. Typically, font-heightsSP4, SP-1 would each be about 100 mils, while the inter-row gaps SP-Z,SP2 (on each half-roll) are about 50 mils. To illustrate a typical,conservative application of the invention, one may assume the followingcharacteristics, using elements (eg. type-roll size, hammer units) thatare otherwise standard:

character set: 63, print-positions: 132;

drum speed: 300 r.p.m.;

printing speed (56 contiguous characters): at 3D0-400 lines/ min.;assuming spacing of lines/ in. horizontally and 6-8 lines/in.vertically. v

Of course, staggered type-font arrangements are not new, broadlyspeaking; for instance, being taught in U.S. 2,111,121 to Mills (e.g.FIGURE and associated description). However, these old arrangements aretypically required to be staggered between rows (i.e. checkerboard arrayof font rows for antighosting purposes or to accommodate variousmechanical hammer sharing arrangements such as multi-column spanninghammers such checker-board font requiring an undesirable oversized printroll; e.g. see U.S. #Re 26,240' to Wasserman). By contrast, thenon-mechanical, electronic sharing of the in- Cil vention accommodates amore compact staggered font array, offset within a row (height) andrequiring neither an oversized print roll, nor mechanical changes suchas alteration in the usual (full) hammer slug array, multislug actuatormeans, etc.

The operation of such a shared-driver arrangement will, in general beunderstood as follows. When a particular half-row of font (e.g. row E Eof PR2) is aligned at the print line P-P (c g. confronting hammers H-67through H-132) and the associated power buss (B-2) is switched ON (byPower Supply Stage P described below) any selected ones of solenoids(S-67 through S-132) may be fired by conventional logic so as toactivate an associated one of the shared drivers HD-1 through HD-66 toprint this up-coming character at that print position (i.e. here an E atany of columns C-67 through `C-132). Similarly when the correspondinghalfrow offset on the other half type roll PR (i.e. row E E of PR-1)next becomes print-registered (for hammers H1 through H-66-duringapproximately the time for the surface of PR to be swept through theoffset distance SP-2), power supply P being controlled in synchronismwith the rotation of PR' then disables buss B-Z and enables buss Bwl(ON) so that then any selected ones of solenoids S-1 through S-66 may befired by associated shared drivers HD-1 through HD-66 (to likewise printan E). Thus, for a given line of print, if an E is to be printed atcolumn `#l and #67 (by solenoids S-1 and S-67), then driver HD-l `wouldfirst be activated during the time the power buss B-l went high so as tofire hammer H-1 and, shortly thereafter, would again be activated duringthe time B-1 goes high so as to fire hammer H-67. The synchronization ofbusses B-2, B-2 with PR motion 'may be effected conventionally (cf.control lines PR-P). (Note that in some cases switching the buss mayeffect firing, rather than firing afterward, as here.)

However, those in the art will see that an array of type font may beotherwise arranged to be swept past the printlocus. P-P in successivehalf-waves (each font-row passing at two successive font-times, ratherthan simultaneously--or even three or more waves). For example, onecould employ a conventional roll (not half-twisted as PR) and fire thefirst group of solenoids (S-1 through S-66) during a given revolution,next forming the other group (S67 through S-132) during the nextrevolution, the while synchronizing the power to busses B-1 and B-2,accordingly (though this would be rather slow). Other arrangements willoccur to those skilled in the art for so sweeping successive sub-sets offont past corresponding sets of synchronously-energized hammer units,according to principles of the invention. Of course, there may be morethan two hammer groups sharing select/ driver circuits; subdividing eachfont-row further (e.g. into three sub-sets) within the limitation of howmuch the printing rate may be slowed down. For instance, each drivercircuit HD may be connected in common with four (rather than two)solenoids; each of the four solenoid groups being enabled by arespective power buss and at a respective font sub-cycle time (e.g.being activated during one of four successive type roll revolutions ifthe resultant slow-down of print-speed can be tolerated). The logicsignals to the hammer drivers would, of course, be synchronizedaccordingly. Similarly, where each solenoid (and, conventionally, anassociated actuator, adapted to strike an independently mountedprint-slug to effect printing) is shown operatively associated with asingle respective hammer unit (print-column), such may be adapted to sooperate a number of hammer units (e.g. as taught in co-pendingapplication S.N. 695,186, to R. Belson and C. Bickoff, filed Jan. 2,1968). Such a mechanical sharing of actuators by hammer units, ofcourse, will be understood as slowing maximum printing speed somewhat.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that power supply P isadvantageously arranged here, although other equivalent arrangements may-be used. That is, a common power source 4`-IVS is schematicallyindicated as applied at an input terminal and may comprise a lll-volt,10 amp. source having a rating of about 400` watts and sufficientcapacitive storage (e.g. large bank of condensers) to provide the brief,high-current pulses required. Power is selectively applied to one ofbuss lines B-I, B-2 (alternatively, in synchronism with type rollrotation) via associated solid state switch means, namely SCR-1, SCR-2respectively. Each switch (a silicon controlled rectifier or the like)is energized `from an associated transformer (T-1, T-Z respectively)which is conventionally activated, in turn, by an associated switchingpulse (source not shown) P-l, P-Z, understood as being applied (alongPR-P) from a source synchronous with the rotation of PR'. Thus, pulseP-ll will enable SCR-1 to apply power (-i-VS) along buss B-1 when itsassociated half-rows of font (on associated half-roll PR-1) isprint-registere While, correspondingly, pulse P-2 will control SCR-2 toapply power along buss B2 when its associated half-rows (on half-rollPR-2) are print-registered. It will be understood that such switching ofSCR-1 and SCR-2 is effected conventionally and that they may likewise beswitched-off conventionally (preferably, driver circuits HD interruptthe current flow and, shortly thereafter, an auxiliary hold-currentcircuit is de-energized to reduce bus current exactly to zero).

FIGURE 2A shows an alternate embodiment for sharing hammer driverelectronics (coupling solenoids and drivers) in a similar manner thoughsomewhat modified; while FIGURE 2B representationally indicateshammerselect/driving logic associated with this embodiment. As withFIGURE 1, this embodiment is shown very schematically and will beunderstood as the same in construction and operation except as belowmentioned. It will be understood that, here, an array ofhammer-energizing solenoids S1 through S-132 (only a representative fewshown one for each of 132 print-columns C-l to C132) are providedtogether with associated hammer driver circuits (HD-1, HD-Z etc. throughEID-129, iiD-130; only outputs indicated here; details in FIGURES 2B,2C); circuits HD being each adapted to energize a respective pair ofsolenoids at alternate times, each from one of two respective buss linesB-1, B-Z (in the manner aforedescribed with respect to FIGURE l). Here,a logical print-command tcp at a given print position is combined with acorresponding print-timing pulse pip at a respective gate portion of thedriver (e.g. see FIGURES 2C, 2D Where command pulse tcp-1 at gate G-land pip-a timing pulse cause the generation of fire pulse fp-l fromdriver HD-1, timed to print an A at solenoid S-l, column C-1). Suchdriver circuits may be understood as represented by HD-l which isindicated in FIGURE 2C as having a two-legged gate G1, adapted to enablea following power ampliiication stage A1, for providing aproperly-timed, amplified fire pulse fp-1. Such a driver would typicallygenerate an output fp-1 of about 4 amps in response to a logical commandpulse tcp-1 of about l ma. As with FIGURE 1, buss lines B-1, B-Z areunderstood to be alternately energized with associated driving pulsesB1, B2. Drivers HD will be understood as being each coupled to applysuch output pulses fp in parallel to a pair of associated solenoid coilsS' (coils S', through S132 understood as respectively part of hammersolenoid assemblies S-l through S-132 of FIGURE 2A). Thus, driver HD-lapplies such fire-pulses fp to associated coils S1, S3 (these beingalternately enabled via busses B1, B2 for pulses frz-1, fp-3,respectively); while HD-Z similarly controls coils S'2, S3, etc.

According to a related feature of the invention, such shared driverarrangements may be controlled from a pair of hit storage means, eachcoupled to half of the drivers from respective cell locations thereofand being adapted to apply a plurality of differentsharemode-synchronized hit signals to each respective driver atdifferent times, corresponding to the aforementioned font-waves. Thatis, as represented in the embodiment of FIGURE 2B a pair of (odd, even)storage registers, OBR, EBR are provided, each having a number of(bit-position) storage cell-sets, one set for each respective (odd, evenprinting hammer) driver HD, the total number of cells corresponding tothe number of printsolenoids, the cell-sets being organized to reflectthe aforedescribed driver-sharing arrangement. Thus, for example, oddregister OBR has 66 cell locations (for hit signals corresponding tocolumns C-1, C-S C-131) paired so that cells #1 and #3 may controldriver HD-l, cells #5 and #7 control HD-S, and so on, as particularizedbelow. When registers OBR, EBR are coupled to be filled from inputterminal IN, each register will be understood as accepting a train of 66hit-bits tcp in order successively and as conventionally controlled tothen step these bits to respective cell-locations (eg. hit signal tcp-1for Sl in cell #1) prior to initiating printing of a given print-line.Thus, each such hit-bit tcp for a respective print (solenoid) positionwill be understood as adapted to enable that associated driver (eg.HD-1) as aforementioned. It will be understood that odd register OBR isintended to be filled by an appropriate (conventional) distributor stageIS with odd hit-signals (tcp-1, tcp 3 etc. through tcp-131)corresponding to (print, no-print commands--e.g binary ones or zeros)for successive odd print positions (corresponding to solenoids Sl, S'3etc. through Slal). Similarly, distributor IS is arranged to fill evenregister EBR with the even hit signals (e.g. alternately with OBR forserial, ordered input); namely those corresponding to hit pulses foreven solenoids S'2 through S122. It will now -be appreciated that,according to this feature of the invention, successive register storagecell locations in registers OBR and EBR are arranged to each control arespective hammer driver circuit HD (eg. OBR cell #l connected tocontrol HD-l; cell #5 to HD-S, etc.). It is also assumed that, asbefore-indicated, the output from each hammer driver HD is to be sharedby a pair of adjacent solenoids, for instance, driver I-ID-l beingshared by solenoids S1, S3 etc. Thus, it is intended that HD-l, forinstance, first operate (print or notprint in first sub-cycle time-whenB1 high) responsive to the hit bit contents of register cell #1; andthen slightly later operate responsive to the contents of cell #3 (insynchronism with B2 at the second sub-cycle time). Further, it will beunderstood that each sharing of solenoids (e.g. S', and S3) is connectedto a different power buss (such as B-l, B-Z, respectively). Finally, itwill be understood that, in synchronisrn with the shift from one powerbuss to the other, a step pulse sb will be applied to each register toshift the contents (left) by one cell position, a function which isconventional in the art and readily attained (for instance, -by applyingpulse sb to be applied with B2 when B-2 goes on).

Print roll PR in FIGURE 2A will be understood as having a sharedarrangement of font (in the manner of PR', but modied) and generallyadapted to sweep sub-rows of font past the print-line in staggeredwaves, although other arrangements may be substituted. The operation ofthis arrangement may be better understood by consideration of theindicated oiTset-by-two font arrangement in conjunction with theexemplary operations described for the associated timing chart in FIGURE2D, below. According to this offset-by-twos font arrange ment (shownfragmentarily), each particular (row of) font is print-registered inpairs of columns, i.e. in a skipping-by-twos mode. Thus, for the A font,a first row a'-a' on PR will print-register font (at plane P-P) forcolumns C-S, C-4, C-7, IC--8 etc. (and associated solenoids S-3, S-4,S-7, S-8 etc.), this time corresponding to print-A time (sub-cycle) forthese columns. Shortly thereafter, when PR has rotated sufficient toprint-register the second related offset row a-a, print- A time for theother columns (C-1, C-Z etc.) will occur. Similarly, two offsetprint-times (print-B, etc.) will 7 occur and (registers OBR, EBR -beingrefilled foreach such print-time) alternate columns likewisesuccessively enabled for printing. Workers in the art will `recognizethe advantageous unique cooperation of such an offsetfont type roll PRwith the driver sharing feature of the invention. However, for purposesof summary and further clarification, a typical operational sequence ofthis embodiment will now be described briefly in conjunction with thetiming chart of FIGURE 2D.

Of course it will be understood that in this chart 2D, axis TR isintended to represent the passage (with time understood along abscissa)of successive normal and offset character font rows as indicated bynormal character A (registered along a-a) and offset character A(indicated as A' registering along offset font row aa); plus normalcharacter B (row b-b), etc. (Roll PR must be assumed rotating oppositeto the arrow-indication in FIGURE 2A.) Axis LR is intended to representthe loading function whereby distributor IS (FIGURE 2B), upon theapproach of a particular font row, such as (a-a) accesses asingle-character Buffer Memory m which has (previously, as known in theart) stored a serial array of hit bits (B) corresponding to theup-coming character, to be supplied in order as aforeindicatedalternately to registers OBR, EBR until every cell-position has acorresponding hit or no-hit signal (tcp) stored therein. Thus, duringindicated period dr-A 132 hit signals are transferred (from a BufferRegister or the like) to the Driver-control registers OBR, EBR.

As before indicated, signal pip indicates, in synchronism with therotation of roll PR and font-row printregistration, firing times whenthe solenoids may be energized so that their hammers will strike aparticular halfrow when it is registered at the locus P-P. Thus, signalpip-A indicates the time for solenoid activating which is to print alongrow a-a), this being conventional in the art. Axes B1, B2 represent thetime-occurrence of power (actuation) pulses along busses B-l, B-2respectively: Fire pulse )fp-1 will be understood as indicating theenabling output from driver HD-l, synchronous with pip-A and tcp-1(FIGURE 2C) to enable solenoids S1, S3. Since buss-signal B1 is alsohigh (and B2 is not), solenoid S1 fires printingly (and S3 does not).(fp-1 will be understood as indicating the ring of HD-l `from a hit-bitin cell #1 and understood as owing through S1, though, of course, itwill als-o be applied to companion solenoid Sa-likewise for all other fpsignals).

A typical operational sequence might be as follows. It will be apparentthat as half-row a--a (normal character A) approaches the print-locusP-P, a loading pulse Lr-A will cause the loading of hit bits(corresponding to this character A) in registers OBR, EBR. Synchronouswith this normal power pulse B1 will go high, Now, it will be apparentthat when firing pulse pip-A is applied to gate G1 (in driver circuitHD-1), a firepulse fp-1 will issue (to lfire solenoid S-1 and launchhammer H1) to print an A at print-position #l (column C-l). This mustoccur within the span of B1. Thereafter, a shift one bit pulse sb1 will`be applied to registers OBR, EBR to conventionally move the contents ofeach up one (to the left by one position), thus shifting the rest of thelogical hit pulses into coupling-relation with their associated (shared)drivers HD. For instance. such shifting will move tcp-3 (for position 3)from cell #3 to cell #1 (the memory location formerly occupied by tcp-1)so as to be coupled to driver HD-l, the other associated power pulse B2coming high in synchronism with this. Thus, if an A is also to beprinted at position #3 (column C-3) driver HD-1 will issue a firingcommand fp-3 (to coil Sg) in response to the timing pulse ptp-A (cf.FIGURE 2D also) so that hammer H3 will print during the passage ofoffset half-row a-a. Printing of A at other print positions will loccurin parallel during their respective sub-cycle and printing of the othercharacters will be likewise performed, i.e. by half-rows duringstaggered half-cycles. The duration of pulses Would be typically asfollows: Lr about 0.1 rns. (millisecond); sb about 1.0 microsecond: fpabout 1.3 ms. Where FIGURE 2B indicates in a rather general way suitablemeans for implementing thedescribed embodiment, simplifying certainfeatures for clarity and to best illustrate the novel features 3Bindicates this in greater detail for a suitable implementation of thesefeatures, while FIGURE 3A indicates (schematically and fragmentarily) anassociated energizing circuit for a representative driver stage HD-l.The timing diagram of FIGURE 3C will indicate to those skilled in theart the typical operative states of the elements in FIGURE 2 asparticularized in FIGURES 3A, 3B (in the manner of FIGURE 2D) andyincluding actual representative time values.

In summary, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention aforedescribed has taught an improved system for controllinghigh-speed printer arrangements by the sharing of driver or likeprint-activating, circuitry. That is, embodiments have been taughtillustrating how a plurality of adjacent print-positions may share acommon hammer-controlling driver circuit and a staggered energizing-arrangement (with one line, in common, to corresponding,commonly-registered positions) with a corresponding shared-fontarrangement and, preferably, also share associated print-signal storageregisters controlling thedriver circuits.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, there have beenillustrated and described the best forms of the invention known, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may ybe made in theapparatus described without departing from the spirit of the inventionas set forth in the appended claims and, in

some cases, certain features of the invention may be used to advantage,or substituted for, without a corresponding change or substitution inother features.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed as new and novel andintended to lbe secured by Letters Patent is:

What is claimed is:

1. In a high-speed printer for printing upon a web positioned along aprint line,

type carrier means having at least a rst and a second column of spacedtype faces arranged thereon in staggered offset form, the type faces ofsaid first column being offset from corresponding type faces of saidlsecond column by less than one line space,

means for continuously moving said carrier means past said print line,

printing hammer means including a plurality of printing heads positionedin proximity to said print line, a rst printing head being provided -forsaid first column and a second printing head being provided for saidsecond column, and

a shared control circuit means for sequentially operating in one cycle,the printing head for said rst column and the printing head for saidsecond column.

2, A high-speed printer for printing upon a web positioned along a printline including,v

continuously movable type roll means having columns of spaced type frontmembers arranged thereon in staggered offset form, the font members ofeach column being offset from corresponding font members of associatedcolumns by less than one line space,

a plurality of N hammer means arranged in like sets of S hammer means ina set and positioned in proximity to said print line, a hammer meansbeing provided for each said column,

a plurality of N/S driver means, each said driver means being connectedin common to all the hammer means of a corresponding set to sequentiallyoperate the hammer means of said set,

a plurality of S power switch means, each said switch means beingcommonly connected to one hammer means from each set for selectiveenergization thereof, and

timing means generating drive signals for controlling the selectiveenergization and sequential operation of said hammer means in responseto periods of registration of said font members at the print line.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein are also includedmemory means comprising N/S storage cells, associated sets of S cellsthereof being coupled to each said driver means in common for applyingsaid drive signals for energization thereof at a respective one of saidperiods.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said memory meanscomprises register means including shift control means for selectivecoupling of said signals in each set of said cells into controllingrelation with its associated driver means at said periods in synchronismwith the passage of corresponding portions of said font mem bers so thateach of said cells associated with a respective drive means issuccessively coupled thereto; and wherein are provided S power bussmeans; each being coupled in common to a given hammer means in each setfor conjunctive energization thereof at said associated operatingperiod; each said buss means also being coupled to said timing means forenergization thereof at said respective operating time in synchronismwith the registration of corresponding columns of said font.

5. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein one of said cells ineach set is directly coupled to the associated driver means and whereineach said register comprises a shift-register adapted to step signals Stimes in font-member synchronism so as to successively shift drivesignals into said directly-coupled cell at respective operating periods.

`6. The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein is also provided astaggered energizing arrangement including S energizing conductors, eachbeing coupled in common to corresponding, commonly-registering hammermeans in said sets for simultaneous enabling thereof at their associatedregistration period.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein S=2; and wherein thereare two hammer solenoids in each set.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein the hammer solenoidsare alternately staggered into an Even and an Odd group thereof; andwherein said memory means comprises a pair of Even and Odd shiftregisters, respective cells of each being coupled to respectivesolenoids in an associated Even and Odd solenoid group; each registerbeing operatively coupled to be filled by print-signal supply means.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein said font is olsetskipping-by-twos so that every other print column ,across the print-linehas its pair of solenoids coupled in common to a respective driver meanswhereby an 11p/down hammer interlacing pattern is accommodated.

10. The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein said energizingconductors comprise an odd power-bus operatively associated with saidodd register, an even powerbus operatively associated with said evenregister; and wherein are included font-synchronized shift control meansfor alternately energizing said busses.

11. The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein are providedfont-synchronizing timing pulse means connected to each said drivermeans; and wherein said shift register means include distributor meansfor lling each register with N hit signals, one for each solenoid,corresponding to a prescribed character printing at a prescribed column,said distributor filling being controlled by said pulse means tocorrespond with registration of a new associated character-row; andwherein a solid-state three-element switch is provided to energize eachsaid power-bus in synchronism with passage of each said font members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 26,240 7/ 1967 Wasserman101-93 2,111,121 3/1938 Mills lOl-96 3,097,307 7/1963 Bonn 317-123 X3,128,693 4/ 1964 Thiemann 101-93 3,215,985 11/1965 Marsh 340-17253,240,920 3/1966 Babbagallo et al. 101-93 X 3,243,665 3/1966 Payer et al317-1485 X 3,247,788 4/1966 Wilkins et al. lOl-93 3,332,343 7/1967 Sims101-93 3,366,045 1/1968 Canarutto 101-93 WILLIAM B. PENN, PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R.

